The United Nations reported that a woman was killed by a partner or family member every ten minutes across the globe in 2023, highlighting that femicide rates remain “alarmingly high”.
According to a joint report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Women Agency released on Monday, nearly 85,000 women and girls were murdered last year.
The report revealed that about 60 per cent, or over 51,000, of these victims were killed by a partner or relative. This translates to 140 women murdered daily, which breaks down to one every 10 minutes at the hands of those closest to them.
The report indicated that “the home remains the most dangerous place for women and girls regarding the risk of deadly victimisation”. While men were four times more likely than women to become homicide victims—making up 80 per cent of all murder victims last year—they typically fell victim to strangers.
Africa suffered the highest impact, with 21,700 women being killed by someone they knew in 2023. Conversely, Europe reported the lowest rates of femicide, with 2,300 murders in total, as did Asia.
Even with some countries attempting to mitigate femicides, the rates persist “at alarmingly high levels” due to entrenched gender inequality and damaging stereotypes.
Data from countries like France suggests that femicides often represent the “culmination” of ongoing violence and could be prevented through measures like restraining orders.
The report draws on available information from 107 countries or territories and data collected by the UNODC from responses provided by member states. Its publication coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.